Tube closure device



June 30, 1970 'L. G. BACH v 3,517,907

- TUBE CLOSURE DEVICE I Fild Sept. 25, 1967 INVENTOR. LLOYD BACH AT TOENEY United States Patent 3,517,907 TUBE CLOSURE DEVICE Lloyd G. Bach, Mishawaka, Ind., assignor to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 670,185 Int. Cl. F16k 7/07 US. Cl. 251- 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The following relates to a tube crimping device which functions as a one shot valve to completely and permanently stop the flow of fluid through a tube. The device includes a fixed die having a pair of intersecting bores, one of which contains a movable bullet-like die and the other of which contains a tube which at some predetermined moment is crimped or deformed by the bullet-like die to prevent further flow through the tube. A squib is utilized to propel the bullet-like die with suflicient force to deform or invert the surface of the tube upon impact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past, conventional valves, which utilize sliding or rotational movement, have been used to stop flow through a tube. However, such valves oftentimes added contamination (valve lubricants, seal particles, etc.) to the fluid when actuated. Furthermore, such valves oftentimes did not have the capability of sealing fluids containing solids which could prevent proper seating of the valve on its valve seat. Other tube closure devices have also been utilized. However, none of these devices were capable of providing a laminar sealing path length of at least one tube diameter while simultaneously maintaining adequate strength at the tube closure to maintain tube tensile and bending strength at levels approaching the strength of the undisturbed portions of the tube in conjunction with sealing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a tube closure device which 1) provides no flow loss due to pressure drop, since the tube is completely unobstructed, (2) provides no volume addition to the tube circuit, (3) is compatible with all types of fluid flowing through the tube, since there is no direct contact therebetween, and (4) utilizes no seals which may leak after long periods of operation or storage, particularly with temperature fluctuations.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a tube closure device which (1) has a strength level nearly equal to the original pressure capability of the tube, (2) has no metal-to-metal seats which may ultimately leak as a result of creep stress in the metals at high unit stress levels, and -(3) has the ability to seal liquids or gases containing solids which might otherwise prevent valve sealing with conventional valve seats.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a tube closure device which includes a fixed die having first and second intersecting bores therein, said first bore being formed to receive a tube therein, a movable :bullet-like die located in the second bore for deforming a portion of the tube against an oppositely disposed portion of the tube and maintaining said portions in abutting sealing engagement, and actuating means for moving said movable die against said tube.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tube closure device of the type described wherein the movable die is restrained or locked in a position which will permanently maintain the tube portions in abutting sealing ICC engagement so as to achieve a bubble tight seal at pressures up to approximately 5000 p.s.i.

The above and other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the tube closure device prior to actuation of the device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but after the device has been actuated, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment of theinvention after the device has been actuated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the tube closure device includes a fixed die 12 having a first bore 14 for receiving .a tube 1 6, and a second bore 18 which intersects the first bore and contains a movable bullet-like die 20. A squib 22 is threaded into the end of bore 18.

Operation of the tube closure device will be as follows: At some predetermined desired moment the squib 22 is ignited by any suitable means, such as an electrical circuit, having the necessary leads and source of potential, which is closed in any manner known in the art, as ,'by the operation of switch or relay. The explosive gases resulting from the firing of the squib cause a rapid increase in pressure behind the movable bullet-like die 20 and produce a reaction force on the end thereof which causes the movable die to move suddenly and forcefully against the tube 16 to deform same, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Such deformation or inversion of the surface of the tube provides a substantially semi-circular seal between the abutting portion thereof which is capable of preventing further flow through the tube. In order to prevent any possible spring-back of the abutting portions of the tube, the movable die 20 is locked in a position which will permanently maintain the tube portions in an abutting sealing engagement. This can be accomplished by any suitable manner such as by providing an interference fit between bore 18 and movable die 20.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals plus 100, tube closure is eifected in another manner. In this embodiment the bore 118 is curvilinear so that it, can direct the movable die 120 axially against the tube 116, as shown. Furthermore, the diameter of the movable die provides the deforming force for closure and the die is locked in its force applying position by being trapped between the fixed die 122 and the tube 116. Although both of the foregoing embodiments utilize a pyrotechnic device, e.g., squib, for providing the necessary force for operation, it will be understood that the closure force could be derived from any other suitable means which would provide a force of suflicient magnitude to cause the desired deformation of the tube.

It will be apparent that a device of the foregoing type can have a number of applications. For example, the nopressure drop, rapid actuation, low volume, low weight, low cost, and high reliability of this closure device makes it quite attractive for a variety of one shot applications for spacecraft, missiles, and conventional aircraft. The ability to cease flow without generating any contamination and the ability to seal fluid mixtures that may contain solids also make this device very attractive for processes where high purity chemicals or foodstuffs are being processed. This tube closure device could also be used in failure or overload detection systems to provide very rapid cessation of flow to minimize the hazard to equipment and personnel. Furthermore, the device is simple, rugged, easy to manufacture, simple to install, and can be depended upon to function most reliably after extended periods unattended in severe environments. In industrial applications, the plumbing can be designed so that the section of tubing that is deformed to effect the closure can be readily replaced to reactivate the plumbing system.

Although this invention has been described in connec tion with certain specific embodiments, those acquainted with this art will readily understand that the invention herein set forth is not necessarily limited and restricted to the precise and exct details presented and that various changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tube closure device comprising a fixed first die having first and second intersecting bores therein, said first bore being formed to receive a tube therein, a movable bullet-like second die located in said second bore for deforming a portion of said tube against an oppositely disposed portion of said tube and maintaining said portions in abutting sealing engagement, means for locking said second die in a position which will permanently maintain said tube portions in abutting sealing engagement, said locking means being formed by providing an interference fit between said second bore and said second die, and actuating means for moving said second die against said tube, said actuating means including a squib located in said second bore for impelling said movable second die into sudden and forceful contact with said tube and means for detonating said squib.

2. A tube closure device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said abutting tube portions form substantially a semi-circular seal.

3. A tube closure device comprising a fixed first die having first and second intersecting bores therein, said first bore being formed to receive a tube therein, a movable bullet-like second die located in said second bore for deforming a portion of said tube against an oppositely disposed portion of said tube and maintaining said portions in abutting sealing engagement, said second bore being curvilinear for directing said second die axially against said tube, actuating means for moving said second die against said tube, and means for locking said second die in a position which will permanently maintain said tube portions in abutting sealing engagement.

4. A tube closure device, as defined in claim 3, wherein said locking means is formed by trapping said movable second die between said fixed first die and said tube.

5. A tube closure device, as defined in claim 4, wherein said actuating means includes a squib located in said second bore and means for detonating said squib.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner R. GERARD, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

